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I think working on COVID-19 response is about to break me, but....
Please CALL YOUR REPS ABOUT USPS INSTEAD OF JUST SIGNING PETITIONS.
We all want to save the USPS, but there is honestly a right away and a wrong way to do it. THIS IS THE WRONG WAY.
Please CALL YOUR REPS ABOUT USPS INSTEAD OF JUST SIGNING PETITIONS. We all want to save the USPS, but there is honestly a right away and a wrong way to do it. THIS IS THE WRONG WAY.
I've always tried to be nice about petitions (since I don't want to finger wag), but honestly, this Administration is NOT going to look at a White House dot org petition.
Not when Trump has made it clear from day one that their goal is to privatize the USPS.
Not when Trump has made it clear from day one that their goal is to privatize the USPS.
The situation behind USPS isn't also just demanding the administration save it; there's a push/pull re:
- Existing USPS problems (pensions)
- The revenue loss due to COVID
- What this administration has done to stop the efforts to help USPS.
Thread: https://twitter.com/Celeste_pewter/status/1249032665698713600?s=20
- Existing USPS problems (pensions)
- The revenue loss due to COVID
- What this administration has done to stop the efforts to help USPS.
Thread: https://twitter.com/Celeste_pewter/status/1249032665698713600?s=20
Here's what we can do right now to help USPS that is USEFUL.
1. Call your Senators and demand a vote on the Heroes Act ( https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr6800)
It provides $25 billion to USPS w/ priority to purchase PPE. Here's the alert from the carriers union: https://m.npmhu.org/media/news/heroes-act-provides-relief-for-postal-employees
1. Call your Senators and demand a vote on the Heroes Act ( https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr6800)
It provides $25 billion to USPS w/ priority to purchase PPE. Here's the alert from the carriers union: https://m.npmhu.org/media/news/heroes-act-provides-relief-for-postal-employees
It also "ends the Treasury Department's blockade of the $10 billion loan previously authorized for USPS in the CARES Act."
Or in other words, it limits Mnunchin's hold on the USPS. Why does that matter? Well: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/23/10-billion-treasury-loan-usps/
Or in other words, it limits Mnunchin's hold on the USPS. Why does that matter? Well: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/23/10-billion-treasury-loan-usps/
This is what the USPS union rep was telling its own members to do on the way I went to go drop off PPE/hand sanitizer for the branch, btw.
They need the funding urgently, and WE as voters (because hey, it's an election year!) can play a critical role in forcing this issue.
They need the funding urgently, and WE as voters (because hey, it's an election year!) can play a critical role in forcing this issue.
2. Keep up the calls; it can't be a one and done. We have to keep up maximum pressure. Make calls daily.
The thing with the USPS, is that everyone is so used to the USPS being an institution, it's never treated as an *urgent issue*.
And this is on both electeds and voters.
The thing with the USPS, is that everyone is so used to the USPS being an institution, it's never treated as an *urgent issue*.
And this is on both electeds and voters.
I had a classmate at JHU who worked directly on USPS legislation, and they wrote a grim final essay explaining just how this is the issue that consistently get passed around & w/out focus.
*We* have to make our electeds know we know how essential this is, and force focus.
*We* have to make our electeds know we know how essential this is, and force focus.
3. Follow accounts like @NALC_National and boost/amplify/support what they're putting out.
They're the ones who are the direct channel to carriers/staff on the ground. They KNOW what USPS needs. Shouldn't we be supporting the experts right now?
They're the ones who are the direct channel to carriers/staff on the ground. They KNOW what USPS needs. Shouldn't we be supporting the experts right now?
4. Continue supporting the USPS by:
- Buying their products
- Sending mail,
- Reaching out to your local branch and asking if they need anything, e.g. face masks.
I've mentioned before, but the branch I visited? They were about out of PPE. Front line workers shouldn't have -
- Buying their products
- Sending mail,
- Reaching out to your local branch and asking if they need anything, e.g. face masks.
I've mentioned before, but the branch I visited? They were about out of PPE. Front line workers shouldn't have -
- scrounge for their own during a pandemic like this.
(And yes - hence the urgent need for the $25 billion.)
5. When calling your federal electeds? Ask House Oversight to hold hearings into this. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/14/postal-service-trump-dejoy-delay-mail/
(And yes - hence the urgent need for the $25 billion.)
5. When calling your federal electeds? Ask House Oversight to hold hearings into this. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/14/postal-service-trump-dejoy-delay-mail/
6. And while you're on the phone w/ your electeds? Ask them to support overtime pay, especially for rural carriers.
They're struggling and need the $. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2020/07/usps-package-surge-keeps-agency-afloat-but-puts-toll-on-employees/
They're struggling and need the $. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2020/07/usps-package-surge-keeps-agency-afloat-but-puts-toll-on-employees/
Please DO what WORKS to help support the USPS.
Or as the USPS union rep said when I was there that day, "Our service is going to look very different come fall", if legislation is not passed.
We need them for a wide range of needs, including vote-by-mail. Please do what works.
Or as the USPS union rep said when I was there that day, "Our service is going to look very different come fall", if legislation is not passed.
We need them for a wide range of needs, including vote-by-mail. Please do what works.
The USPS has a lot of challenges that aren't going to be fixed right away, including:
1. Updating their fleet,
2. Critical overtime/hazard pay
3. Trump-installed leadership
But right now, the most critical is to get them the $ they need to make it through this period.
1. Updating their fleet,
2. Critical overtime/hazard pay
3. Trump-installed leadership
But right now, the most critical is to get them the $ they need to make it through this period.
Again: I hate finger wagging about petitions, but petitions are absolutely not going to help this situation right now.
It's about direct pressure on electeds, and a reminder we want urgent USPS support. We CAN make a difference, but we need to commit to doing it.
It's about direct pressure on electeds, and a reminder we want urgent USPS support. We CAN make a difference, but we need to commit to doing it.
